3.0. Introduction
Agrarian structure takes into account every condusive factor that is responsible for the sustained growth in the agricultural sector. Agrarian structure involves the social, economic and technical elements that affect production in the agricultural sector. There factors are used to measure the productivity level of farmers, the distribution of their income and the social position of the rural population. The agrarian structure also
includes the process of land management and land tenure system. The integral part of the social agrarian structure that will be discussed in this unit will be the land ownership and the labour organization system.
3.1 Specific Objectives
By the end of this unit you should be able to:
i. List the elements that affect production in the agricultural sector.
ii. Explain fully the social agrarian structure.
iii. Briefly explain the component parts of the social agrarian structure.
The social agrarian structure the land ownership and the labour organization form a part of the social agrarian system.
1. land Tenure System
There is the existence of different types of land tenure system in the world as per the existing social conditions. A number of factors determine the land tenure system social economic and natural conditions have a grave impart on the agricultural production. The topography of the land, its climate and soil all constitute the natural condition whereas the socio-economic factors include alternations in the price of goods, technological progress political ideology and growth of population.
Problems of land tenure System
The system of land tenure has faced many problems in large countries, the most common problem is that the population is more than the percentage of arable land. The cultivable lands are often accumulated in the hands of a few powerful people who are not involved in farming themselves and hire labours. Often, these owners only appear in the
time of rent collection with the rise in population, the demand for employment also increases and hence the small land holders lease out their land and survive on the rent.
Another form of the tenure is share cropping but this is also a flawed system since no dead is drawn while he deal is closed. It is only a verbal deal which implies that the tenant does not have any security. Moreover, its only on a one year contractual basis on which the share croppers are allowed to plough the field. The landowner often demands 50 percent of the produce even if he does not share the cost of production. There is a class of people who act as the intermediaries who often distort the relation between the landowner and the tenant. This form often leads to less investment in agriculture, indebtedness and poverty. The population growth often leads to segmentation of land.
More and more people are becoming jobless and migrate to towns in search of work.
The social agrarian structure only enhances poverty and unemployment. The landlords who earn profits do not invest in agriculture instead they use the money for buying material comforts. Majority of the population live under the poverty his and are unable to pay the rigid taxes the structure actually hindered progress in the agricultural sector. It is difficult to change the land tenure system with the changing time. These systems are institutionally set up, hence it is not a good idea to alter the system time and again neither is it easy to do. The cultural interest, the ethnic interests, the power structure everything must be taken into account before any amendments are made.
ii. System of labour organization
This system governs the relationship between the labours and the landowners. The landowners pay wages to the labours against their works. The rate of wage is determined by the landowner himself. There could be different types of labour organizations. There
could be family labour organization hired labour organization or collective labour organization.
The system of labour organization also governs the relationship between the division of labour and the wages among the farmer. The relationship differs based on the kind of labour involved in the field.
1. Family Labour Organization: This structure is the one in which the family itself works on the field and enjoys the fruits of labour. The working capacity of the family is the determinant factor on how much profit the family earns. They always endeavor to bear the loss incurred if there is any. In this type of system there could be problems, one of these is the size of the farmland. If its is small, then all the members of the family would not have the opportunity to be engaged on the farm at the same time which may eventually lead to underemployment and as a result the standard of living deteriorates.
2. Wage Labour Organization: There is a large number of wage labour found in the rural regions of the developing countires. The wage labours owe their existence to the poor mechanization in the rural areas of the developing nations.
Due to population explosion and declining job opportunities the ordinary people have no other option but to offer their labour against wages.
The different types of wage labour available are:
i. Permanent wage Labours: there are usually found in the large farms which can afford to keep permanent labour. They sign a bound for the entire life.
They are paid annually. This relationship extends from a professional one to a personal one.
ii. Casual Labours: These labours are time bound. They usually find work during the peak season of harvest. They may take up other paid work during the off season. This happens because of population explosion.
iii. Agricultural Labour Owning small farms: This is another type of tenancy since the labours in this category lose their own land due to several reasons and are forced to find work in other fields. They work on their own farms as well as take up other paid work to sustain themselves.
iv. Colony: In Latin America People practice this type of farming which enables the farmers to work in fields which are given to them by the owners.
v. Migratory Workers: People belonging to minority groups often become migratory labours. They travel from distant places in search of work and are employed by the owners of land as wage labours.
vi. Plantation Labours: They are the most organized form of labour more like the industrial workers. These workers sometimes practice subsistence farming.
The conditions in which they live are poor with very little hope of advancement.
vii. Bonded Labour: This is a form of slavery and this happens due to any kind of debt or obligations. They therefore decide to work in return to offset the debt. The wages paid to them are very low and the interest rate is very high this form of bond is illegal out the farmers are not in a position to do anything against it.
It has to be noted however that every labour organization has characteristic features which are commission to family and wage labour class in that they can not be united and because of this they suffer.
Land management system
The land management system covers the factors on which the cultivation of land is possible. These factors include the following: land, labour and capital.
The land is the most important factor since without it crop production is not possible.
This is closely followed by labour. Capital is another important factor without which it is not possible for the farmers to buy the necessary inputs. However, it finally depends on the farmer how well he can manage all these aspects to have a bumper harvest.